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###### Department of the Interior

###### Bureau of Indian Affairs

          - [256A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A51010.999900]

# AGENCY:

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

# ACTION:

Notice of application deadline.

# SUMMARY:

The Office of Self-Governance (OSG) establishes a March 1, 2025, deadline for Indian tribes/consortia to submit completed applications to begin participation in the tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2026 or calendar year 2026.

# DATES:

Completed application packages must be received by the Director, Office of Self-Governance, by March 1, 2025.

# ADDRESSES:

Submit applications to Sharee M. Freeman, Director, Office of Self-Governance, Department of the Interior, Mail Stop 3259- MIB, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240.

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Vickie Hanvey, Office of Self Governance, (mail to:                         *Vickie.Hanvey@bia.gov*); Telephone (918) 931-0745. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services.                    

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

                    Under 25 U.S.C. 5362(b) of the Practical Reforms and Other Goals To Reinforce the Effectiveness of Self-Governance and Self-Determination (PROGRESS Act), the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Self-Governance, may select not more than                           ( print page 103864)                        50 new Indian Tribes per year from those eligible tribes. The application deadline listed in the                     **DATES**                     section is predicated upon providing the parties enough time to complete funding agreement negotiations in advance of the fiscal year or calendar year start date of the 2026 funding agreement. The PROGRESS Act mandates that copies of the funding agreements be sent at least 90 days before the proposed effective date to each Tribe that is served by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and wants to participate in a funding agreement. Initial negotiations with a Tribe/consortium located in a region and/or agency which has not previously been involved with self-governance negotiations will take approximately 2 months from start to finish. Agreements for an October 1 to September 30 funding year need to be signed and submitted by July 1. Agreements for a January 1 to December 31 need to be signed and submitted by October 1.                

## Purpose of Notice

Under 25 U.S.C. 5362(c), which supersedes the eligibility criteria in 25 CFR part 1000, subpart B, to be eligible to participate in self-governance, an Indian Tribe must:

(1) successfully complete the planning phase outlined below;

(2) request participation in self-governance by resolution or other official

action by the Tribal governing body; and

(3) demonstrate for the 3 fiscal years preceding the date on which the Tribe requests participation, fiscal stability and financial management capability as evidenced by the Indian Tribe having no uncorrected significant and internal audit exceptions in the required annual audit of its self-determination or self-governance agreements with any Federal agency.

An Indian Tribe seeking to begin participation in self-governance must complete the planning phase. The planning phase must:

(1) be conducted to the satisfaction of the Indian Tribe; and

(2) include:

(i) legal and budgetary research; and

(ii) internal Tribal governing planning, training, and organizational preparation.

Applicants should be guided by the referenced requirements in preparing their applications to begin participation in the tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2026 and calendar year 2026. Copies of these requirements may be obtained from the information contact person identified in this notice.

Tribes/consortia wishing to be considered for participation in the tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2026 or calendar year 2026 must respond to this notice, except for those tribes/consortia which are one of the 142 tribal entities with signed self-governance agreements.

## Information Collection

This information collection is authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0143, Tribal Self-Governance Program, which expires February 28, 2026.

Bryan Newland,

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.

[FR Doc. 2024-30289 Filed 12-18-24; 8:45 am]

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